Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-05-19
A FLIGHT.

The American flag.
The time hangs heavily when ships are
waiting for frrights or winds To- start them
into active service. Pera had become
dreadfully duh 10 us, and We had done up
Constantinople and the surrounding coun-
try 10 our hearts content. With the eN-
ceptiOn Of an occasional dinner st the
consulate. there WAS no recreation Ia be
had-no theatres or operas. \ dozen of
Us tried To swim the Bosphorus from the
point from which Byron Was said IN have
started He must have accomplished his
feat in the summer, for We sicnally failed
in the attempt, owing 10 the temperature
Of the water, and were glad enough 10 be
taken on board our boats before We got
half way.
Our only resort was a hotel which was
kept by the wife Of the captain of the port,
who was in exile for murder. She was
true type of GreCian beauty, native OF
Athens, inst such a person ~ the bard
who SWAN so well would imIn IrtaliZe IN
verse Between the hotel and .he landing
where We took our boats for the ship was
Il distance of about three-quar,e ,ers of q
mile. Most Of the street~.were guarded
by gates which were closed at night. when
no one WAS allowed 10 pass-unles> sailors,
who. with a few piasters, could bribe the
guard TO open for them at any time. We
never ventured 10 he out late unless we
were q dozen OF So strong: then we would
sally forth, lantern in one hand and pistol
in the other, ready Ia defend ourselves
against robbers. who did not hesitate 10
take life The Turkish authorities took
no notice Of troubles arising among for
eigners The consuls were supposed TO
ba i,,f. oft rb.fr s.A.nl.H
saw Greek stab and rob an Austrian
captain within twenty feet Of a Turkish
guard. who did not interfere. and who
showed less interest than he would have
shown at light between Two packs Of
dogs
The street which was our regular route
10 the ship had a gate and guard house
at either end. Blank walls about twenty
feet high extended some 500 feet along
both sides of the street Behind these
walls We're the palaces of two Of the grand
pashas We could only see the windows
of the upper stories; the mHgniticence
within was left to our imagination. As
We We're walking past one afternoon one
of the windows was suddenly thrown open,
and there appeared al il the most beauti-
full woman ] had ever seen. We We're
fairly electrified by her beauty. She had
defied a well known edict in showing us
her face, as We knew Instantly as she
appeared We saw her throw something
over the wall. and then she closed the
window. IL was a note which she had
thrown. We all rushed 10 pick il up.
The prize vas won by a Swedish captain,
who Immediately pocketed it.
When we arrived at the landing the
Swedish captain invited me on beard his
ship We had been SO intimate during
our STAY that the rest of our party could
not take offense at this preference; but
how anxious they were to know the con
tents OF that note, | insisted that no
gentleman could ask. nor would any
dlyulge its contents which justly be-
longed TO its captOr. Once on board, the
note was opened, when an agitation seized
the captain which made him appear 10 me
Ike lunatic.
Captain" he said. handing me the
note, you are married. and circum-
stances have proved how much you love
your wife. l am unmarried, and have
fallen desperately i'll love. Help me by
Your advice. What shall dos My ship
Is ready 10 sail, and the wind is fair. 1
do not own the vessel or cargo and there
fore have no right Ia detain her. Read,
and tell me what to do. "
As my own marriage had been very
romantic. this affair was doubly exciting
TO me The note was written in a good
English hand, as follows:
Il know YOU are Christians. and will
save me from this life Of degradation.
Entombed in this harem. from which
there is no other way of escape, l appeal
10 you in mercy TO save me. God,
and guide you tomorrow night 10 4
silken thread thrown from this window,
near where you found my note. TO the
thread attach your answer. Death awaits
discovery
The night was spent IN deylsing means
Of rescue. The captain swore upon the
Bible that he would marry her if rescued,
and if she would consent. Jewels are
most priced when most difficult TO obtain.
| was in full sympathy with his feelings,
and when the day broke our plan Of ac-
tion had been determined. | saw that hs
was untitled 10 20 To sea. his head being
entirely turned. and 10 ease his conscience
upon the point of his duty pointed out
that the interest Of all parties would lie
served best if he should defer his de
parture until the dark moon, when lhe
plan devised could he pnt into opera
rion This would necesSitate a delay Of
five days.
Among our friends we We're to pretend
that no Importance attached To the missive
which the lady had thrown out As
reason for his delay in not sailing the
swedish captain was Ia say that he had
discovered a leak in the ships top side
after he had loaded her. which made it
necessary TO careen her for repairs. II re
quired much tact 10 avoid the captains
with whom he had been i'll daily company,
and 10 make excuses TO stay ashore late
every night. We stayed ashore 10 become
well acquainted with the guards, whom
We thought we could induce. by appearing
TO he half drunk and by liberal use of
money. to open the gates for us at any
Time The first night we half staggered
up 10 the gate. handed the guards 100
piaSterS and then showed them our empty
pockets whereupon they allowed us TO
pass through the gate. pointing 10 their
hearts To assure us that no one should
pass that way To mOlest Us. Each of rs
carried the usual paper lantern 10 illumi-
nate the way, and we We're well armed
with pistols and cutlas>es. During the
day we had paced the distance from tho
gate TO the spot Vi here We might expect {"
find the thread. and we now had but TO
pace OF the same number Of steps i'll the
darkness. During the day also we hal
not failed to show ourselves frequently in
the street 10 let the prisoner know We
meant 10 communicate with her.
We found the thread and attached our
note of reply, first putting out our lights
10 avoid discovery. Softly pulling the
thread we felt a gentle strain III reply,
and the note was pulled up, 10 reach, we
prayed, the hands of her who 80 anNiOusly
awaited il. On our return 10 the gate il
va. imme.iaIelN nnened when We had